Struggling with frugality, debt, parenting, and weight

If/Then in New York City

I just spent the last few days in New York City for work, and I took advantage of the trip to see a Broadway show. I’m a huge fan of Idina Menzel, and so I looked up tickets for “If/Then”, her new musical. Dad graciously used his fun money to buy my ticket because I wasn’t going to spend “that much” money on one ticket ($101.25). Go see it if you get the chance, but take tissues!

The show is all about the choices we make and what those consequences can be, and the missed opportunities we’d have or not have based on those choices. The show starts with Elizabeth (Idina Menzel) making a choice in a park in New York City. Then the rest of the show follows the two paths that “happened” after that first choice. You follow the two paths “Liz” and “Beth” through the show, including work, love, heartbreak and friendship. I admit I bawled during the 2nd half after intermission. The central theme of the show is all about making our choices and owning them, and not constantly wondering what if.

The central theme applies to our lives as well. We made choices to get to where we are today, whether we’re happy about that or not. And we can’t keep wondering what if we had made a different choice. We have to own our choices, good and bad, and live with them. Once those choices are made, we can’t undo them, and we shouldn’t even try, but instead make our next choice to the best of our ability.

When it comes to our financial lives, most of us probably wish we made different choices in the past – living more within our means, saving more, borrowing less. But we are where we are now, and the best we can do is make the best choices we can from this moment on. So, if you borrowed money in the past – even just moments ago – start making the choices you want to make right now.

No one knows what the future holds (or we’d all be lottery winners!), so you do what you think is best at the time given what you *do* know. Don’t waste time wondering what would have happened if you had made a different choice, you didn’t – so own your choice, and make a better choice next time.

3 thoughts on “If/Then in New York City”

That was a discount ticket too! New York is just expensive in general. I don’t mind spending money on shows and theatre every once in a while, but $100 tickets are something that happens every 2-3 years.

Las Vegas is expensive too. I went there last year. Stopped in the bar as we arrived late and thought a drink would be a great way to celebrate our arrival before we went to bed. I thought the bartender gave us the wrong tab. After looking at it, it was correct.

We did not have any more drinks in that establishment the rest of the trip.